Fluid viscometer suitable for downhole use
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsLi Gao, Michael T. Pelletier, James E. Masino
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Abstract
An illustrative method for measuring a fluid viscosity that includes vibrating a tube containing a fluid of interest, obtaining a vibration signal from the vibrating tube, deriving a system energy loss rate measurement from the vibration signal, calculating an energy loss rate for the fluid of interest from the system energy loss rate measurement and a reference energy loss rate measurement, and generating a viscosity measurement of the fluid of interest based on the energy loss rate for the fluid of interest and a density of the fluid of interest.
Claims22
A method for measuring a fluid viscosity, comprising:
- vibrating a tube, the vibrating tube containing a fluid of interest;
- obtaining a vibration signal from the vibrating tube ;
- deriving a system energy loss rate measurement from the vibration signal;
- calculating an energy loss rate for the fluid of interest from the system energy loss rate measurement and a reference energy loss rate measurement;
- and
- generating a viscosity measurement of the fluid of interest based on the energy loss rate for the fluid of interest and a density of the fluid of interest.
A fluid viscosity measurement system that comprises:
- a tube that receives a fluid of interest;
- a vibration source that drives the tube to vibrate;
- a sensor coupled to the tube to receive a vibration signal from the tube;
- a processor coupled to the sensor to implement a viscosity measurement method comprising:
- deriving a system energy loss rate measurement from the vibration signal;
- calculating an energy loss rate for the fluid of interest from the system energy loss rate measurement and a reference energy loss rate measurement;
- and
- generating a viscosity measurement for the fluid of interest based on the energy loss rate for the fluid of interest and a density of the fluid of interest.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.